The Priscilla Project

On November 29th, 2022, my mother – Priscilla Christie – suffered from a sudden Hemorrhagic stroke.

After over a week in the hospital, emergency brain surgery, and many difficult nights for all, she was diagnosed with a rare and incurable brain disease called Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA). This disease does not have a known cause, has no treatment, gets progressively worse, and is eventually fatal.

CAA is a condition where a type of protein called “amyloid-beta” is deposited in and builds up within the arteries of the brain. These proteins weaken the walls of blood vessels and eventually lead to ruptures. This results in cascading “micro-bleeds” or “micro-strokes.” Eventually, these smaller bleeds manifest into larger and very serious strokes. This is what happened on November 29th.

On any random day in the next few years, there is a very high likelihood that my mother will suffer another stroke that will end her life. Until that happens, life will get harder every day as more of these micro-bleeds take place.

If you know my mother, you know that it is not in her nature to seek or expect charity. She is an incredibly strong, passionate, and hard-working person. She has accomplished incredible feats and powers through any difficulty life has thrown her.

She is a person who loves to give, never expecting anything in return. I have spent nearly 25 years with her and it is so abundantly clear that she lives her life to make others happy. She is the kind of person that stands up for someone when no one else will and will give until her last day.

My mother is driven by love and kindness. She spends her free time creating gifts, helping people with any design needs they may have, and organizing fun events for others. She has also been the driver behind several GoFundMe efforts for those in the West Coast Swing dance community.

The reality of this situation is grim and difficult. The impact of this one incident has already made the work she was doing previously much more difficult. I do not wish for the remainder of her life to be encumbered by medical expenses and the need to figure out how to make money. I will continue to support her as best I can, but as a 24-year-old only child, the amount I can provide is limited.

My one wish for my mother is for her to finally be able to exhale, enjoy the remainder of her life, and get to experience some of the love that she so frequently gives to others.

Several of my mother’s closest friends initiated and are launching this GoFundMe campaign and invited me to share my thoughts and personal experience. I am grateful for their efforts and any contributions that may help during this unpredictable and life-altering journey.

Thank you for your love, support, and kindness,

Brendan Brown